‘All of us want them to stay’: GOP governor candidates opine on Bears’ threats to go to Hoosier state

Republican gubernatorial hopefuls’ opinions on the Chicago Bears leaving Soldier Field for Arlington Heights or Indiana ranged from concerns about stiffing taxpayers to the potential loss of millions in tax dollars.

Three of the candidates in the March 17 primary — 2022 GOP nominee for governor Darren Bailey, former Wirepoints chief Ted Dabrowski and video gambling magnate Rick Heidner — met with the Daily Herald editorial board Wednesday.

A fourth hopeful, DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick, could not attend because of flight delays.

The Bears purchased the former Arlington Park racecourse in 2023 with plans to build a stadium and mixed-use district, but state leaders have been wary granting the team a tax break to help fund the project. Now the franchise is teasing a move to Northwest Indiana.

“If I was governor, that property would be half-built by now,” said Heidner, who called the 326-acre site a “city inside of a city in Arlington Heights.”

“If they build a new stadium with a dome, we’re going to get the Super Bowl — hundreds of hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars coming here when the Super Bowl comes here,” the Barrington Hills resident added.

That includes new sales, real estate and entertainment taxes from hotels, restaurants and offices, Heidner said. He advocates giving the team funding for infrastructure supporting the development.

“If we lose the Bears — what about talking how much tax dollars we’re going to lose? We’re either going to have a big plus and share some of that tax money or we’re going to have a huge minus by them leaving,” Heidner said.

Dabrowski said “it’s not just the Bears, we’ve seen Caterpillar leave, we’ve seen Citadel leave,” among other corporations.

“We’ve made an environment where companies in our amazing, huge state … have fled,” the Wilmette resident said. “I think probably all of us want them to stay in Chicago, want them to stay in Illinois. I love the Bears. We made it such that they start looking elsewhere because we’re not a hospitable place.”

Dabrowski said his priority is the “everyday, ordinary Illinoisan.”

“I oppose giving any public money … directly to the Bears,” he said. “Of course, for the infrastructure, this public infrastructure that would benefit all communities, I’m for that. But I’m not looking for deals that force our taxpayers to subsidize a big company like the Bears.”

Bailey said Illinois can’t afford to lose the Bears and blamed the team’s talks with Indiana on Gov. JB Pritzker.

“Unfortunately because of our failed government, we can’t afford to have the conversation to keep them,” said Bailey, who lives in downstate Xenia.

Bailey noted that the state gave a tax break to lure Boeing’s corporate headquarters from Seattle to Chicago, but eventually “Boeing packed up and left.”

“These businesses are doing this because Illinois does not have a business-friendly climate,” he said. “We’ve got some tough days. But don’t forget their lease (at Soldier Field) is not up until 2033, that gives us a little bit of time to figure this out, but Illinois needs to get its act together.”

Mendrick weighed in separately, calling the Bears “an iconic organization” whose future is an important for fans and the state.

“Any decision like this has to start with the Bears organization clearly laying out a comprehensive plan — what they’re proposing, how it’s funded, and what it means for taxpayers and local communities,” he said.

“Once that happens, the state can responsibly evaluate the proposal, gather public input, and have a serious discussion about whether it makes sense for Illinois,” Mendrick added. “This isn’t something that should be rushed or decided behind closed doors. It deserves transparency, feedback, and a clear understanding of the long-term impact before any commitments are made.”